Bleacher Report - Articles by Andrew Fong

NBA Draft 2008: "And the Winners Are....."

Andrew Fong — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:58:59 -0400

While some may be disappointed that the drama with Michael Beasley never unfolded, I for one really liked the trade activity level with many teams making bold moves to bolster their roster.

While some stayed the same and the usual teams made boneheaded moves, here are a few teams that I feel built their team well for the future.

Chicago - Am I the only one on the planet that feels Beasley should have gone No. 1? I understand the level of play Rose had in the tournament, but before those two weeks, there was no one doubting Beasley was the No. 1 pick. How does that all change in a couple of weeks? Hinrich, who could start on MANY teams in the NBA now must be dealt. Now the Bulls put in Rose instead of Hinrich, but run the same players that could not get it together with that talent. You give Hinrich a monster like Beasley to work with, along with Deng on the wing and you have three players at three different positions you would have to contend with. I guess the Tyrus Thomas experiment continues. Overall, the Bulls made a good pick because Rose is that good, but I don't know if it's the best pick for their team.

Miami - You know how I feel about Beasley, so it's to no surprise that I feel Miami did the right thing. To pick or even hint at picking anyone else was pretty dumb in my opinion. As much hype as Durant got last year, Beasley put up even better numbers his freshman year, yet there was doubt if he should go No. 2? It makes no sense. Through a trade, the Heat also landed another favorite of mine in Mario Chalmers. Look at this lineup should it remain intact for years to come: Chalmers, Wade, Marion, Beasley, and any center that can defend. That's pretty sick.

Portland - Deciding to clean up their old "jailblazers" act, this team has really impressed me with the way they have built their team. They had the foresight to go get Brandon Roy and LeMarcus Aldridge who are both better players than who they were swapped for, Randy Foye and Tyrus Thomas respectively. Greg Oden hasn't even stepped foot on the floor, so he can be considered as an addition to last year's team. On a team full of talent, they got what they needed most, an upgrade at point guard, which they landed in a trade for Jerryd Bayless. This allowed them to take a flyer on a high upside player, Nicolas Batum. Yet again, another sick lineup is built for the future: Bayless, Roy, Webster, Aldridge, Oden

Houston - How can I write an NBA column without mentioning my home town team? Going in, I felt we needed a long athletic wingman that could sub in for Tmac. While I was hoping for Brandon Rush or Chris Douglas-Roberts, I was not disappointed with the selection of Nicolas Batum. It doesn't end there. The Rockets were able to swing this pick and turn it into Donte Green, Joey Dorsey, and a future second round pick. Not a bad return. At a pick this low, it's a crapshoot as to who will be better between Green and Batum. However, landing Joey Dorsey was brilliant. The Rockets have long needed a guy to patrol the paint and watch Yao's back, now they have found that man in Dorsey who is ready to play today. If Green can add anything off the bench in his rookie season, it will be icing on the cake.

Morey Magic: Rockets have another solid draft

Andrew Fong — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:30:47 -0400

Going into the draft I thought two perfect players that would fit in with our needs were Brandon Rush and Chris Douglas-Roberts. With Rush's stock taking off as the draft drew near, there was little chance of the Rockets getting him. When the Rockets pick rolled around with the selection of Nicolas Batum, I wasn't too disappointed.

After all he is a long athletic wingman in the mold of Rush and CDR. Obviously, the Rockets must have felt that there was something lacking in CDR's game. At the 25th pick, every player is considered a crapshoot. However, what transpired into the evening really made our draft.

In a three-way deal with the Grizzlies and the Trailblazers we managed to turn Batum into Donte Green and Joey Dorsey. This is how the deal went down:

Rockets select Nicolas Batum with the 25th pick
Trade Batum to the Trailblazers for Darrell Arthur and Joey Dorsey
Trade Arthur for Donte Green

Not only did the Rockets land the long athletic wingman needed, they also land a power forward who is ready to play today. I understand the Rockets have Luis Scola and Carl Landry, but Joey Dorsey is an absolute beast on the interior that brings the inside toughness we desperately need to compete for an NBA championship.

At best he could turn out to be like Ben Wallace, at worst he would be Chuck Hayes on steroids and HGH. Getting him was definitely a steal in my opinion. Donte Green may not be ready to contribute but at least he can shoot. At 19, he has the upside to develop into the type of player we need.

With solid coaching perhaps he can even contribute off the bench next season, but again, when picking so low, as long as guy has upside, there is no harm in making this type of trade. I'm definitely feeling good about what Daryl Morey has done with this team in just a couple of years.

Now if the Rockets big two could just stay healthy, I wouldn't have to be writing on just hopes and dreams, but instead the reality of contending for a championship.

Can Houston Rockets Benefit from Pistons' Fire Sale?

Andrew Fong — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:01:20 -0400

Some in Houston have thrown around the idea of trying to land Rasheed Wallace—but at what cost?

I like Sheed, but not at the expense of Shane Battier. The Rockets are SO close. I think people are flipping out about making a trade.

The Rockets were without Yao Ming for half the season and the playoffs. Let's not forget Rafer was hurt too, and they still had a chance. Having their starting PG and the BEST center in the league in itself will make a huge difference.

If the Rockets can't get Mike Miller, then I say they just relax a little and not get too crazy. Every team needs a Battier/Bruce Bowen-type stopper of the best player on the other team.

Battier is actually a tough type of player to come by. Anyone that truly follows basketball knows that he should have been first-team defense over Kobe Bryant.

The Rockets have depth at the bigs with Luis Scola/Carl Landry/Chuck Hayes/Yao. Those guys all know how to play some minutes since Yao was out so long. I'm not even throwing Deke into the rotation.

From what I saw against Utah, and throughout the playoffs, we need that one guy that can create his own shot—someone who can come in while T-Mac rests and maintain or increase the lead.

I'd like us to target Chris Douglas-Roberts or Brandon Rush, both long guys that can defend. I doubt they will last though, or that we would even consider them.

Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind having Tayshaun Prince at the right price.

Paul Pierce MVP? East Better Than West?

Andrew Fong — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:27:21 -0400

Now that the Finals are over, people might be asking two questions.

Does Paul Pierce deserve the MVP? (Or could it have gone to Kevin Garnett or even Ray Allen, who broke the record for most three-pointers in a Finals series).

Does this mean that the East is not inferior to the West, as everyone has been saying for years?

Pierce definitely deserves it. You gotta love the guy. My favorite part of the night was when David Stern was about to announce the MVP by starting off with stats, the whole crowd began yelling "TRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTH!" I loved it.

Sure, it could have gone to either Ray Ray or KG, but for the guy who has lived and died being a Celtic, it was only right. Not single-handedly, but he did a great job defending Kobe Bryant, and when Kobe guarded him, he took the "supposed greatest player in the game" to school.

Pierce was just awesome, and clearly outplayed Kobe this series. Kobe was, dare I say, T-Mac-like?

East is definitely inferior, but it only takes one great team to win the championship.

When the West's No. 9 team, Golden State, could have been the No. 4 seed in the East, there is no doubt the East is inferior, keeping in mind that GS has their record playing against West competition.

If they got to play more East teams, their winning percentage would have been even higher. The Celtics have been the best team from start to finish, cleaning up on East and West teams in the regular season and postseason.

It's to no one's surprise that they won it all, nor will it be if they win it for the next two years.